Traction-wheel.



A. HUPFMAN.

TRAGTION WHEEL.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1, 1912.

Patented oct.' 28,' 1913.

ATTUHNAEYS soft or ence indicate corresponding .ALONZO HUFFMAN,OFMUTUAL, OKLAHOMA,

TRACTQN-'WHEEL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

Application tiled November 1, 1912. Serial No. 728,988.

To all Iwhom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALONZO Hermien, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Mutual, in Vthe county of loodvvard and State of Oklahoma,have invented a new and lmproved Traction-llvlieel, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to traction wheels for use With agriculturalimplements, traction engines and tor like purposes, and has referencemore particularly .to a traction wheel having a rim and a plurality ofground-engaging members associated therewith and adapted gravitationallyto assume projected positions in advance ,or back Voi the point ofContact betiveen the wheel and the ground.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicienttraction Wheel which can be used with traction engines, agriculturalimplements, and for other analogous purposes, the tractive eiiiciency ofwhich is materially greater' than that of the ordinary traction Wheel,which cannot readily slip in Wet ground when turninglin either abaclrvvard or a forward direction, Which is strong and compact in formand cannot readily he injured, and in which the parts when injured canbe easily replaced.

The invention consists in the construction and. combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set 'forth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specilication, in which similar characters of referparts in all theviews, and in Which- Figure l is a side elevation of a traction Wheelconstituting an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged,transverse section on the line 2- 2 or Fig. l; 3 is a perspective viewshowing one of the ground-engaging members separated from the ivheel;and Fig. l is a similar' view shovv ing a ground-engaging member ofmodified form;

Before proceeding to a more detailed eX- planat-ion ot' my invention itshould be un.- derstood that While the'device is particularly useful inconnection with agricultural implements adapted for use in sandy, softor moist soil, it can also be advantageously employed for other purposesto Which traction Wheels are usually put. The ground-engaging membersmay be of 'the wheel .flitterent form, size i cross-bars give andproportions, or may vary in number, provided thatthey are of suchcharacter that they will automatically, gravitationally assume positionsin advance or back of the point of Contact between the Wheel and theground, so that they will engage the ground at points remote from thesaid point of contact, thereby materially augmenting the tractive.eiliciency ofthe Wheel.

Certain of the details of construction shown for example herewith, formno part of the invention and can be varied in accordance with individualpreference and special conditions, Without departing from the underlyingspirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, having a hub 10, spokes l1,and a rim or telly 12, these parts all being fashioned from any suitablematerials, and of customary form. Arranged about thc'rim of the vvhcelis a plurality ot' ground-engaging members 123. Each otl these, in thepreferred embodiment ot the invention, cono't a U-shaped element havinO'sides t and a cross-bar 15, the ends 1G oij Which project laterally'beyond the sides l-l. The latter have, near the free extremities,openings 17 adapted to receive a bolt 18. The bolt is disposed in' asuitably proportioned and located transverse opening 19 of the rim, andconstitutesmeans for pivotally mounting the ground-engagingI member uponthe Wheel. The sides 14 of the member are spaced apart a distance suchthat rim can be received therebetween, fitting closely, thoughpermitting the ground-engaging member to swingv freely. VThe Wheel rim,adjacent to each' ot' the ground-engaging members, has laterally extendinglugs or stops 20, which limit the pivotal movement of theground-engaging members in one direction, that is, outwardly from thewheel. The inward movement of the ground-engaging members is limited bythe contact of the cross-bars l5 With the periphery of the Wheel rim.

lu Fig. -t l have shown a modilied form ot the ground-engaging members,in which l provide sides 21 similar to the sides 14. The cross-bar 22however, has the portion intermediate the sides 21, V-shaped. the endsQ3 projecting beyond the sides as in the other embodiment of theinvention. For certain characters of Work the lV-shaped better traetiveeffort.

.l have shown for example a wheel they approach the ground at 'the frontoit the vxlreel, arrange themselves gravitationally in procctedpositions, that each willV com; in contact with the ground aconsiderable distance in advance ot contact between the wheel and theground, thereby obviously givinga better tractive eli'crt. At will bereadily understood that it a traction wheel has Contact with the `Woundat a plurality of points, the tractive eiiq'oit will be materiallygreater than where the point of Contact is a single one. Similarly, itthe wheel is moving backward, the ground-engaging members disposethemselves at the back oi the wheel, in projected position, so that theywill come in contact. with the ground at points materially at the rearof the point ot cont-act between the wheel and the ground.

rlie member 13 may have the edge portions coming in contact with theground sharpened so as to increase the gripping action of same with theground.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secureby Letters latent:

l. d traction wheel havinga rim, and a plurality of independent,movable, groundengaging members pivotally mounted upon said rim at thesides thereof, and extending the point ot across the same, said membersat the lower part of the wheel gravitationally assuming projectedpositions and`at the upper part of the wheel lying closely' against therim thereof.

2. A traction wheel havingva rim, and a plurality of independent,movable, groundengaging members associated therewith, each ot saidmembers consisting of a U- 'shaped element having sides anda crossbar,said sides being pivotally secured at the sides ot said rim, whereby.said crossbar extends across sind rim.

plurality of independent, movable, groundengaging members associatedtherewith, each of said members consisting of a U- shaped element havingsides and a crossbar, said sides being pivotally secured at the sidesof: said rim, whereby said crossbar extends across the rim, saidcross-bar having the ends extended laterally beyond said sides, said rimbeing provided with stops limiting the movements of said ground-engagingmembers.

ln witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence ot two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO HUFFMN.

vWitnesses Wirtin. C. Rises, Nina L. FOSTER..

3. A traction Wheel having a rim, and a Amas I

